The Board of California’s stem cell agency, the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine (CIRM), approved $70 million for the establishment of a state-wide network of five stem cell clinics; the CIRM Alpha Stem Cell Clinics Network. This clinic network is intended to support and accelerate clinical trials involving stem cell therapies. The clinics will also be engage in educating people seeking for stem cell therapies and those who would like to participate in clinical studies involving stem cells. The funds will be used for the development of the infrastructure necessary to test the safety, efficacy of stem-cell infusions.
A reporter for outsourcing-pharma.com spoke with Kevin McCormack, spokesman for CIRM, and learned that the vote, which took place last week at CIRM, was procedural in nature and served solely to approve the concept. Still on the horizon is an effort to put together a list of criteria that will be used in the selection of appropriate research clinics, as well as a process for applying for funds.